Overview

• Nearly 90,000 residential break-ins were reported last year in Germany, with average losses of about €3,800 per incident
• Mechanically reinforced locks, pilzkopf fittings and door crossbars delay intruders and cause more than one-third of attempts to fail
• Certified alarm systems are most effective when paired with robust mechanical barriers and can alert security services before entry
• Police advise against infrasound-based alarms due to frequent false alerts and lack of accreditation by testing centers
• Up to €50,000 per dwelling is available through KfW-backed loans for approved physical and electronic security upgrades